Integrated circuit performance improvement across a range of operating conditions and physical constraints

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to improve integrated circuit (IC) performance across a range of operating conditions and/or physical constraints are described. In one embodiment, an operating parameter of one or more of processor cores may be adjusted in response to a change in the activity level of processor cores (e.g., the number of active processor cores) and/or a comparison of one or more operating conditions and one or more corresponding threshold values. Other embodiments are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A processor comprising:
 a plurality of processor cores; 
 active core logic to determine a change in a number of the plurality of processor cores that are in an active state; 
 monitoring logic to
 determine operating conditions of the active processor cores, wherein the operating conditions include current power usage, maximum operating current, thermal design power, thermal design current, and maximum operating voltage, and 
 compare the determined operating conditions of the processor cores to a threshold value; and 
 
 adjustment logic to adjust an operating parameter of the processor cores in response to the comparison of the operating condition to the threshold value, wherein the adjustment logic is to increase a value of the operating parameter in response to the operating condition indicating a value that is lower than the threshold value and to decrease a value of the operating parameter in response to the operating condition indicating a value that is higher than or equal to the threshold value, wherein an operating condition for when multiple processor cores of the plurality of cores are to be active and an operating condition for only a single processor core of the plurality of cores is to be active are fused to comprise the threshold value and wherein all single core workloads are fused at a single frequency that is independent of power consumed or operating temperature. 
 
     
     
       2. The processor of  claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter comprises one or more of: (a) an operating frequency of one or more of the plurality of processor cores; or (b) an operating voltage of one or more of the plurality of processor cores. 
     
     
       3. The processor of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors to detect the operating condition. 
     
     
       4. The processor of  claim 1 , wherein the operating condition correspond to one or more of the plurality of processor cores. 
     
     
       5. The processor of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of processor cores and one or more of the first logic, or the second logic are on a same integrated circuit die. 
     
     
       6. A method comprising:
 determining that there is no change in a number of active processor cores; 
 determining current operating conditions of the active processor cores, wherein the operating conditions include current power usage, maximum operating current, thermal design power, thermal design current, and maximum operating voltage; 
 comparing the determined current operating condition of the active processor cores to a stored threshold value; 
 adjusting the operating parameter by increasing a value of the operating parameter in response to the one or more operating conditions indicating a value that is lower than the threshold value and decreasing a value of the operating parameter in response to the one or more operating conditions indicating a value that is higher than or equal to the threshold value; 
 wherein an operating condition for when multiple processor cores of the plurality of cores are to be active and an operating condition for only a single processor core of the plurality of cores is to be active are fused to comprise the threshold value and wherein all single core workloads are fused at a single frequency that is independent of power consumed or operating temperature. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising storing the threshold value in a storage unit of the processor. 
     
     
       8. A computing system comprising:
 a memory to store one or more threshold values; and 
 a processor having a plurality of processor cores, the processor comprising:
 active core logic to determine a change in a number of the plurality of processor cores that are in an active state; 
 monitoring logic to
 determine one or more operating conditions within the active processor cores, wherein the operating condition is selected from one or more of: current power usage, operating current, and operating voltage, and 
 compare the one or more determined operating conditions to a stored threshold value; and 
 
 adjustment logic to dynamically adjust an operating parameter of one or more of the plurality of processor cores in response to comparing the one or more operating conditions to the stored threshold value, wherein the adjustment logic is to increase a value of the operating parameter in response to the operating condition indicating a value that is lower than the threshold value and to decrease a value of the operating parameter in response to the operating condition indicating a value that is higher than or equal to the threshold value, wherein an operating condition for when multiple processor cores of the plurality of cores are to be active and an operating condition for only a single processor core of the plurality of cores is to be active are fused to comprise the threshold value and wherein all single core workloads are fused at a single frequency that is independent of power consumed or operating temperature. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the operating parameter comprises one or more of: (a) an operating frequency of one or more of the plurality of processor cores; or (b) an operating voltage of one or more of the plurality of processor cores. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more sensors to detect the one or more operating conditions. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an audio device coupled to the processor to communicate audio signals. 
     
     
       12. The processor of  claim 1 , wherein a processor core is in the active state while it is processing data or an instruction. 
     
     
       13. The processor of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring logic to compare the operating condition of the processor cores to a second threshold.